Electric switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3o. 1915.

of which :the following is a full, clear CHARLES J. KLEIN, VOF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLEE-HAIVIMER MFG. C0., OIE' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

` ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches,

concise, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, forming a art of this specification.

hisinvention relates to electric switches.

One" of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved snap switch mechanism comprising a minimum'number of parts capable of cheap manufacture 'and ready assembly.

Other obects and advantages of the inappear hereinafter in connection with a description of the accompanyindrawing whereinigure 1 is an elevational view of a switch mechanism.

Fig. 2` is a sectional view ofthe same inco oratedin a battery switch device.

ig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a switch mechanism part.

v one of the movable switc Fig. 4 isan enlarged grspective view of contacts.

Fig. is a. Elan view of va modified form of switch mec anism.

Fi 6 is a sectional viewl of one device to w ch the mechanism of Fig. 5 may be applied, and

. 7 is a lan view of a base showin t e conducting parts thereon associated with the switch mechanism..

l The switch mechanism illustrated comprises, in general, a pair of spaced pivoted lcontacts 1, an 'operating member having a ing, there tact members 1 mediallypivoted on they part disposed between said contacts and. reciprocab e in engagement therewith across the plane of the axesthereof and energy storing means 2 associated with theparts to e'ect a snap oscillation of the contacts as tlie switch actuating part passes in either direction across the contact axes. I

Referring more specificallyv to the .drawis shown in Fig. .1 a pair of conadjacent ends of a looped spring 2, said spring being carried by asupporting plate 3 and insulated therefrom by suitable means such .as a'hollow rivet or sleeve 4 and an insulating bushing v5. A .push and pull 4 Specification of LettersPatent.

A through the Patenten aan. s, isis.

Application filed January 90, 1915. Berta! No. 5,248.

switch operating member 6 extends through the sleeve 4 and is also carried by the plate 3. -Said operatinginember `carries on its inner end an insulating block 7 beveled or otherwise shaped to provide opposite knife edges 8 against which the contacts 1 are pressed by the looped s rin 2. In prac-l tice,'the contacts 1 are oose ymounted on lugs 2a of the spring 2 andare held inl position thereon by the resiliency of said spring which forces the contacts against the block 7. Thus assembly of these parts is facilitated. The operating member is normally in extreme position where the block 7 rests at one side of the plane of the piv.-

otal raxes of ythel contacts, so that the spring 2 normally holds the contacts with their active faces 9 either biased apart or biased together.

Aumin the mechanism to be in closed circuit position as shown in Fig. 1, elevation of the push button '6 forces the block 7 over the adjacent faces of the contact l which are bodily repressed against the action of the loop spring 2. The free extremities 9 of the contacts are, however, maintained unmoved until the knife edges 8 of the blockl `cross the plane of the contact pivots, whereupon the contacts are cscillated with a snap movement by the energy stored in spring 2 .and the contacts ythus assume a reverse obligueness with the ends 9 closely adjacent. peration of the mechanism in the other direction effects a snap make of circuit in a similar manner. In practice, the extremities 9 of' the movableA contacts. are reiexed as shown to increase the resiliency thereof and the opposite ends 16 of the contactsl are bent apartat substantially' right angles to engage the spring 2 and limit oscillation of the'contacts when circuit is opened. The mechanism described is ap lied in Fig. 2 to a battery switch device.

a pair of spaced contacts 11 projecting connections 12'on theouter side thereof. tubular casing 13 is seated on the base and incl'oses the parts of the switch mechanism. A air ofscrews 14 extend through opposite en s of the base 10 and take into the front sthere Ashowfnfan insulating base 10 is provided with base'and having binding post plate 3 for securing said base and plate to- I' gether and clamping'the casi-ng 13 therebetween.. The. stationary contacts 11 carried bythe base are also brought into registry with the movable contacts 1 when the base and plate are thus connected. A conventional face plate 15 is attached to the plate 3 when the device is installed.,

The modified form of switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is designed for a push button operated lamp socket; In this embodiment a pair of movable contacts 17 are pivoted in spaced relation on terminal plates 18 secured to an insulating base 19. A push button switch operating member 20 of insulating material' extends across the base 19 between the contacts 17 and has fixed thereto a pair of resilient spring fingers 21 having convexed extremities 22 confined between the contacts and movable thereover from one side to the other of the contact axes. Operation of this mechanism is in general similar to the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, however, the

` energy storing means is in the form of the and a dome shaped'cap 30 therefor. 50,

resilient Vfingers 2l and thus directly associated with the operating member rather than with the contacts. Said spring fingers 21 are under tension at all times, but the tension thereof is augmented as the push button is moved in either direction from extreme position until the knife edges 22 pass-the plane of the axes of the contacts`17 whereupon said contacts are oscillated with a snap movement to make or break circuit between the terminal plates 18 and stationary contacts 23 and 24 carried by the base. As shown the contact 23 is connected with a lamp shell 25 and the contact 24 is connected with a center contact 26', so that the switch controls both sides of the line supplying the translating device.

The socket base 25 on its lower face and theswitch mechanism on its up er face. LA second insulating base 27 is provided to cover the switch mechanism ,and is attached/to -the\base 19 'by screws 28 and the terminal plates 18. suitable casing may be provided to inclose the socket parts. As shownthe casing for this purpose comprises a cylindrical shell\2.9

In both forms ofthe/device illustratedthg switch mechanism comprises a minimum number of parts which are assembled to con,- stitute two units capablepf ready association. Furthermore, the various parts are of sturdy construction capablel of resisting severe service and not likely to become disordered. While the mechanisms are also very compact, it is'to be notedethat the current conducting elements thereof are thoroughly insulated to eliminate lall 1i@- v bility of short circuiting.

What I claim as new and desire to secure .by Letters Patent-is 1. In an electric switch, in combination, a pairof osclllata-ble contacts pivoted me- 19 carries the Mscrew shell n dially,V an operating member havin va part reciprocable between said contacts rom one side to the other of the plane of the axes thereof and energy storing means constituting a support for said contacts.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a pair of oscillatable contacts pivoted medially, a reciprocable operating member arranged between said contacts and having parts in engagement therewith and movable thereover and meansV to receive energy during initial movement of said operating member and to expend such energy by oscillating said contacts as said operatingl parts pass the pivotal axis thereof, said energy storing means constituting a support for said contacts.

3. In an electric switch, in combination., a resilient member, a pair of operated contact members pivoted medially thereon, contacts adaptedA for engagement by said operated members, aA reciprocable operating` member between said members and movable thereover from one side to the other of the axis thereof, said resilient member being associated with one of said members to bias together the ends of said operating members on the side of the axis away from said operating member.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a resilient member, an operated ymember pivoted-medially thereon, a contact adapted for engagement by said voperated member, a reciprocable operating member having a knife edge bearing upon said operated member and movable thereover across the plane of the axis thereof, said resilient member being associated with certain of said members for biasing said operated member toward said operating member and'effecting a quick oscillation of said operated member as Asaid knife edge crosses the plane of the axis thereof.

1, 5. In anv electric'switch, in combination, a

lane of theaxes thereof, and normally tensionedv resilient means associated with certam of"sa1d rmembers biasing the vad]acent ends of said operated members in opposite Y v vdirectionsand in accordance with the position of said knife 'edges with respect to said axes. 1

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a

vpair yof spaced operated members pivoted medially and having associated contacts, a reciprocable member therebetween and having knife edges movable thereover across the plane of the axes thereof, and normally tensioned resilient means associated with certain of said members biasing the adjacent ends of said operated members in opposite directions and changing the direction of neeaeee bias thereof with a snap movement as said knife edges cross the plane of said axes.

7, In an electric switch, in combination, an oscillatable operated member, a support therefor, and common means to operate said member and to hold the same in assembled relation with said support.

8. In an electric swltch, in combination, a spring, an oscillatable operated member loosely mounted thereon, and a reciprocable member to operatey said oscillatable member and to maintain the same in assembled relation with said spring.

9. In an electric switch, in combination, a resilient support, an oscillatable operated member medially pivoted thereon, and common means to operate said member and to maintainl the same in its -pivotal assembly upon said support.

10. In an electric switch, in combination,

an energy storing supporting means, an oscillatable contact medially and loosely pivoted thereon, a coperating contact for said oscillatable co/ntact, and a reciprocable member to operate said oscillatable contact and to maintainthe same in its pivotal relation with said energy Storing means.

` In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses:

L. A. WATSON, TEKLA BAST. 

